White House: Obama Thinks Augusta Should Allow Women

The Augusta National Golf Club house on April 4, 2012, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

President Barack Obama believes women should be allowed to become members of the all-male Augusta National Golf Club, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Thursday, as the four-day Masters tournament got under way.

“His personal opinion is that women should be admitted,” Mr. Carney told reporters. “But it’s obviously up to the club to decide.”

Augusta’s longstanding policy of not permitting women as members has upset women’s groups and Democrats for years, and the annual Masters tournament always brings fresh attention to the issue. This year, questions about the policy are being raised because the new CEO of IBM, a longtime sponsor of the Masters, is a woman, Ginni Rometty, and her predecessors have all been admitted to the club.

The White House conveyed Mr. Obama’s position on the Georgia golf club on the eve of its conference on women and the economy and as the president’s re-election campaign is making a push to win over women voters.

Mr. Obama, who regularly plays golf on weekends and vacations, has come under criticism for not including women in his foursomes. He once took a female White House adviser, Melody Barnes, on an outing but mostly plays with the same small group of male aides.

Mr. Carney said he spoke with Mr. Obama about Augusta’s all-male policy, and the president told him his views. Asked whether Mr. Obama would play at a golf course that did not permit women, Mr. Carney said he did not know.

“I think we’re kind of long past the time when women should be excluded from anything,” Mr. Carney said.

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